Michelle Holt by her parents’ memorial plaque at Henley Road Crematorium. She believes more notice should have been given over a decision to change the rules on the size of tributes allowed

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A mourner has spoken out against a council decision to reduce the amount of space where people can leave tributes to their loved ones at a town cemetery.

Michelle Holt, 50, of Cressingham Road, Whitley, was stunned after hearing items could be removed from memorials if they exceed new restrictions at Henley Road Cemetery in Caversham.

She regularly visits the remembrance garden where she rents a plot of land in memory of her dad Brian and mum Betty who died in 2000 and 2006 respectively.

Rules say items should not exceed the width of the bronze memorial plaques – six inches for a single, 12 inches for a double – and be more than a foot deep and the same high.

Mrs Holt said: “I do not think what they are doing is right. It’s supposed to be a place of remembrance and do not want it looking regimental and lined with concrete. As long as you keep it tidy and it’s not over the top and you are not stepping too much on other people’s toes then it shouldn’t matter. There must be a lot of people that don’t come up here that often who don’t know this is happening.”

Reading Borough Council (RBC) is in the process of concreting the edges of the paths behind the plaques to ensure people know how much space they have been allocated.

Council workers were spotted measuring up plots and removing tributes last Monday but following complaints from visitors claiming they were not informed this has stopped until further notice.

Mrs Holt added: “I think it’s heartless and they could be a bit more lenient. These are people’s tributes and they are grieving the loss of their loved ones. I do not know why they have to be so stringent. It makes me awfully upset and feel rotten.”

The council maintained the concrete edging would be decorated and attractive and the new boundaries were determined following a four-month consultation at the start of 2011.

The authority said this was in response to numerous complaints by visitors who felt there should be limitations on what should be allowed and the size of some memorials made it difficult to maintain the grounds.

The council said 500 letters were sent to regular visitors to the cemetery as part of the consultation which was publicised in the press, local radio and on its website.

Information was also given out at the cemetery and available in libraries, public places and the Civic Centre and in February letters were sent to plaque owners. RBC admitted that despite this some people were still not aware of the changes and it had temporarily halted the removal of any tributes.

Council spokesman Oscar Mortali said: “The council fully understand that this is a very sensitive area and that, understandably, people want to create memorials which are personal to them and their loved ones.

“We have to balance the needs of all service users however, and this is what the consultation aimed to achieve.”